Nearby Theaters

Located in the south-west Greater London district of Twickenham, at the corner of Cross Deep and Heath Road.

The Luxor Picture Theatre opened on 18th November 1929 with Victor McLaglan in “King of the Kyber Rifles”. Built for Walter Bentley, it was designed as a cine-variety theatre with a proscenium 35 feet wide, there was a 17 feet deep stage and four dressing rooms. The theatre contained a mixture of styles, with the exterior being a combination of Egyptian and modern. The Egyptian theme was continued in the auditorium and the foyer was modern.

The Luxor Picture Theatre had a Compton 2Manual/8Rank theatre organ, opened by organist John Armitage, and there was the Luxor Orchestra. In 1932, the Luxor Picture Theatre was sold to the Joseph Mears Theatres Ltd. chain.

In January 1944, it was sold to the Odeon Theatres chain and was re-named Odeon in January 1946. The Odeon was closed by the Rank Organisation on 10th October 1981 with Franco Nero in “Enter the Ninja” and David Warner in “Nightwing”. A spectacular organ concert on the Compton organ was held in the theatre, just prior to closing. The theatre was demolished in 1986 and a sports club and bar was built on the site.

I HAVE A SET OF COLOUR PHOTOGRAPHS THAT I TOOK ON CLOSING DAY.
I USED TO GO TO THIS CINEMA EVERY WEEK AS A CHILD DURING THE WAR…
IN THE SCHOOL HOLIDAYS I USED TO “RUN THE NEWSREEL” BETWEEN THIS SHOW “ODEON TWICKENHAM” AND THE OLD “ROYALTY” (GAUMONT) RICHMOND…
I STARTED AS “TRAINEE PROJECTIONIST ” AT THE ROYALTY IN 1948.

Further to my last posting I have written a book about Anne Ziegler and Webster Booth, entitled “Sweethearts of Song: A Personal Memoir of Anne Ziegler and Webster Booth” by Jean Collen. Information about the book is available at http://www.lulu.com

Four vintage photographs of the Odeon Twickenham:
Still named the Luxor Cinema, but now proclaiming itself as being part of the Odeon Theatre’s Chain in this September 1949 view:View link
It had been re-named Odeon by October 1949 when photographed playing the Odeon Circuit release here:View link
Playing the Odeon Circuit release in April 1956:View link
Close-up of the entrance while playing the Odeon Circuit release in November 1964:View link

I believe that, for a short while at least, the cinema was considered as a possible new home for the Musical Museum collection from Brentford. The Museum has now moved to a purpose built location a few hundred yards from its former home.